Systems and methods utilizing turbine compressor discharge for hydrostatic manifold purge

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for air recovery are disclosed. The diverted pressurized air may be used to supply a hydrostatic purge to the unutilized portion of a turbine engine fuel manifold circuit to ensure that exhaust gases from the utilized side of the fuel manifold circuit do not enter the portion of the alternative fuel manifold circuit rack. The assembly used to remove compressor section pressurized air may include a flow control orifice, line pressure measuring instrumentation, non-return valves, isolation valves and hard stainless-steel tubing assemblies. In some embodiments, a turbine compressor section diverter system may include a small air receiver used to increase the volume of air supplying the manifold to aid in potential pressure and flow disruptions from a turbine engine compressor section.

1 . A dual fuel gas turbine engine, the engine comprising:
 a primary compressor having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;   a combustion chamber in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the primary compressor and positioned to receive compressed air from the outlet opening of the primary compressor, the combustion chamber having a first fuel manifold and a second fuel manifold, the combustion chamber having a first mode of operation in which the first fuel manifold is configured to provide fuel to the combustion chamber and the second fuel manifold is unused, the combustion chamber having a second mode of operation in which the second fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide fuel to the combustion chamber and the first fuel manifold circuit is unused; and   a manifold pressurization system comprising:   a purge inlet in fluid communication with the primary compressor adjacent the outlet opening;   a common purge line connected at an upstream end to the purge inlet, the common purge line configured to provide purge air at a purge pressure equal to or greater than a combustion pressure within the combustion chamber;   a first purge line connected at a downstream end thereof to the first fuel manifold circuit; and   a control valve connected to a downstream end of the common purge line and an upstream end of the first purge line, the control valve having a second position in which the control valve connects the common purge line with the first purge line to supply purge air to the first fuel manifold circuit, the control valve being in the second position when the combustion chamber is in the second mode of operation.   
     
     
         2 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold pressurization system further comprises:
 a second purge line connected at a downstream end thereof to the second fuel manifold circuit,   wherein the control valve is connected to an upstream end of the second purge line, the control valve having a first position in which the control valve connects the common purge line with the second purge line to supply purge air to the second fuel manifold circuit, and   wherein the control valve is in the first position when the combustion chamber is in the first mode of operation.   
     
     
         3 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the common purge line comprises a purge air reservoir to provide purge air when the primary compressor is not operating. 
     
     
         4 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the common purge line includes an orifice, the orifice configured to limit a volume of the purge air removed from the primary compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The engine of  claim 4 , wherein the orifice is a fixed orifice. 
     
     
         6 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the common purge line includes a check valve, the check valve configured to prevent backflow within the common purge line. 
     
     
         7 . The engine of  claim 2 , wherein the control valve has a third position in which control valve closes the downstream end of the common purge line, the upstream end of the first purge line, and the upstream end of the second purge line, the control valve being in the third position during a shutdown mode of operation of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the primary compressor is a multistage compressor having a P3 point, the purge inlet positioned at the P3 point of the primary compressor. 
     
     
         9 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the purge inlet has a closed position in which the purge air is prevented from entering the common purge line and an open position in which the purge air is allowed to enter the common purge line. 
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 9 , wherein the common purge line includes a pressure sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a pressure of the common purge line to a control system of the dual fuel gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         11 . The engine of  claim 10 , further comprising the control system configured to receive the signal from the pressure sensor and control a position of the purge inlet in response to the signal from the pressure sensor, the position of the purge inlet controlling a pressure within the common purge line. 
     
     
         12 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide the first fuel which is a liquid fuel into the combustion chamber and the second fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide the second fuel which is a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         13 . A hydraulic fracturing pumping system, the system comprising:
 a dual fuel gas turbine engine, the dual fuel gas turbine engine comprising:   a primary compressor having an inlet opening and an outlet opening:   a combustion chamber in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the primary compressor and positioned to receive compressed air from the outlet opening of the primary compressor, the combustion chamber having a first fuel manifold and a second fuel manifold, the combustion chamber having a first mode of operation in which the first fuel manifold is configured to provide fuel to the combustion chamber and the second fuel manifold is unused, the combustion chamber having a second mode of operation in which the second fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide fuel to the combustion chamber and the first fuel manifold circuit is unused; and   a manifold pressurization system comprising:   a purge inlet in fluid communication with the primary compressor adjacent the outlet opening;   a common purge line connected at an upstream end to the purge inlet, the common purge line configured to provide purge air at a purge pressure equal to or greater than a combustion pressure within the combustion chamber;   a control valve connected to a downstream end of the common purge line; and   a purge air reservoir located along the common purge line between the control valve and the purge inlet;
 a hydraulic fracturing pump connected to the dual fuel gas turbine engine such that the hydraulic fracturing pump is driven by the dual fuel gas turbine engine; and 
 a trailer in which the dual fuel gas turbine engine and hydraulic fracturing pump are mounted thereon. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the manifold pressurization system further comprises:
 a first purge line connected at a downstream end thereof to the first fuel manifold circuit,   wherein the control valve has a second position in which the control valve connects the common purge line with the first purge line to supply purge air to the first fuel manifold circuit, and   wherein the control valve being in the second position when the combustion chamber is in the second mode of operation.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the manifold pressurization system further comprises:
 a second purge line connected at a downstream end thereof to the second fuel manifold circuit,   wherein the control valve is connected to an upstream end of the second purge line, the control valve having a first position in which the control valve connects the common purge line with the second purge line to supply purge air to the second fuel manifold circuit, and   wherein the control valve is in the first position when the combustion chamber is in the first mode of operation.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the purge inlet has a closed position in which the purge air is prevented from entering the common purge line and an open position in which the purge air is allowed to enter the common purge line, wherein the common purge line includes a pressure sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a pressure of the common purge line to a control system of the dual fuel gas turbine engine, further comprising the control system configured to receive the signal from the pressure sensor and control a position of the purge inlet in response to the signal from the pressure sensor, the position of the purge inlet controlling a pressure within the common purge line. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide the first fuel which is a liquid fuel into the combustion chamber and the second fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide the second fuel which is a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         18 . An electric power generation system, the system comprising:
 a dual fuel gas turbine engine, the dual fuel gas turbine engine comprising:   a primary compressor having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;   a combustion chamber in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the primary compressor and positioned to receive compressed air from the outlet opening of the primary compressor, the combustion chamber having a first fuel manifold and a second fuel manifold, the combustion chamber having a first mode of operation in which the first fuel manifold is configured to provide fuel to the combustion chamber and the second fuel manifold is unused, the combustion chamber having a second mode of operation in which the second fuel manifold circuit is configured to provide fuel to the combustion chamber and the first fuel manifold circuit is unused; and   a manifold pressurization system comprising:   a purge inlet in fluid communication with the primary compressor adjacent the outlet opening;   a common purge line connected at an upstream end to the purge inlet, the common purge line configured to provide purge air at a purge pressure equal to or greater than a combustion pressure within the combustion chamber;   a control valve connected to a downstream end of the common purge line; and   a purge air reservoir located along the common purge line between the control valve and the purge inlet;   an electric generator connected to the dual fuel gas turbine engine such that the electric generator is driven by the dual fuel gas turbine engine; and   a trailer in which the dual fuel gas turbine engine and electric generator are mounted thereon.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the manifold pressurization system further comprises:
 a first purge line connected at a downstream end thereof to the first fuel manifold circuit,   wherein the control valve has a second position in which the control valve connects the common purge line with the first purge line to supply purge air to the first fuel manifold circuit, and   wherein the control valve being in the second position when the combustion chamber is in the second mode of operation.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the manifold pressurization system further comprises:
 a second purge line connected at a downstream end thereof to the second fuel manifold circuit,   wherein the control valve is connected to an upstream end of the second purge line, the control valve having a first position in which the control valve connects the common purge line with the second purge line to supply purge air to the second fuel manifold circuit, and   wherein the control valve is in the first position when the combustion chamber is in the first mode of operation.